Nut-lock.



No. 683,764. Patented Oct. I, l90l.

H. R. HOPGOOD.

NUT LOCK.

cation filed June 12, 1901 (No Model.)

f. MW in i. ii. 11'

UNITED STATES HENRY R. I-IOPGOOD, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

MENTONE, CALIFORNIA.

Nut-Look.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,764., dated October 1, 190i.

Application filed June 12, 1901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY R. HOPGOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mentone, in the county of San Bernardino and State of California, have invented a new and useful Nut-Lock, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to nut-locks; and the prime object thereof is to provide a simple device that may be readily applied to a bolt without the necessity of removing the nut from the same.

Devices of this characterin order to be prac tical must not only be inexpensive to construct, but it is of the utmost importance that the structure be such as will permit of easy and rapid application to bolts, for the reason that ime, as a general rule, is of greater value than the lock itself.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a nut-lock that combines both of the desirable features as above pointed out.

Another feature of the present invention is the combination of elements by means of which not only is the nut held against movement, but the nut-holding mechanism also serves the purpose of locking the device in operative relation upon the bolt.

In the embodiment of the present invention described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings the preferred form of construction has been illustrated; but it will be understood that such changes may be made therefrom as are within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a railway-rail, showing a bolt and nut connecting the fish-plates, said nut being locked by the improved device. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the nut-lock, the bolt being shown in sectionand the nut in dotted lines in order to more clearly illustrate the application of the device. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the nut-lock. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail perspective views of the respective elements detached.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The nut-lock, as shown in the accompanyv ready insertion of a bolt.

Serial No. 64,295. (No model.)

ing drawings, consists of .two elements a base-washer (designated 10) and a lockingkey 1lwhic h are constructed, arranged, and applied in the following-described manner:

The washer 10 is preferably rectangular in form and has a bolt-opening 11 and an en trance-throat 12, leading to said opening; This entrance-throat is offset to one side of the opening and is large enough to permit the The base thus constitutes practically a hook, of which the projecting portion 13 forms the bill or holding shoulder. The washer is furthermore pro vided on the side contiguous to the entrancethroat with an upstanding keeper-flange 14, having an offset lip 15, that is arranged over, but spaced from, the adjacent face of the washer to constitute a guideway 16. The portion of this lip that is located contiguous to the entrance-throat 12 is cutaway, as shown at 17. In combination with said base the locking-key 11 is employed. This key comprises angularly-disposed leaves, one of which (designated 18) is arranged to be slidably mounted in the guideway 16, while the other, 19, forms a bearing-shoulder against which the nut is arranged to abut. The leaf 19 preferably has one end beveled, as shown at 20.

Assuming that the nut has been threaded upon the bolt, to apply the device it is only necessary to loosen said nut sufficiently to permit the base-washer being slipped over the shank of the bolt below the same, so that said bolt will be located in the receivingopening and above the holding-shoulder 13. The locking-key is then inserted in the guideway and moved down until itis in proper position with relation to the nut, which is then rotated sufficiently so that it will bear against the leaf 19. The lower edge of the base is designed to rest upon the fish-plate. It will thus 'be seen that an exceedingly simple construction has been devised, which may be stamped out of sheet metal and can be readily applied to a bolt after the nut has been placed thereon. The cut-away portion of the lip 15 provides the necessary space to allow the application of the washer, while the upper portion forms an extended bearing over the leaf 18 at the point where the most strain comes upon the same. The beveled end of the leaf19 permits the more ready application of the key and also forms the bearingshoulder, against which a tool may be placed when it is desired to remove said key. It will also be observed that this key not only looks the nut and washer against relative movement, but that it prevents any lateral play of the washer upon the bolt, and thus holds said washer in place.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a nut-lock, a body in the form of a hook arranged to be detachably engaged about a bolt contiguous to the nut thereof, in combination with means having a detachable connection with the body for engaging thewasher and nut to hold them against relative movement and to hold the washer in operative relation to the bolt.

2. In a nut-lock, the combination with a washer having a bolt-receiving opening and an entrance-throat leading from one edge to the bolt receiving opening, the entrancethroat being offset to one side of the opening to form a holding-shoulder, said washer being furthermore provided on the side of the entrance-throat opposite-the holding-shook der with an upstanding keeper, of a lockingkey arranged to be placed between and engage the keeper of the washer and the nut of a bolt passing therethrough, said key serving to hold the washer upon the bolt and also securing said'washer and nut against relative movement.

3. In a nut-lock, the combination with a Washer having a bolt-receiving opening and an entrance-throat leading from one edge of the bolt receiving opening, the entrancethroat being offset to one side of the opening to form a holding-should er, said washer being furthermore provided on the side of the en trance-throat opposite the holding-shoulder with a guideway, of a locking-key arranged to be placed in the guideway of the washer and bear against the adjacent face of the nut of a bolt passing through the opening thereof, said key serving to hold the washer upon the bolt and also securing said nut and bolt against relative movement.

4. In a nut-lock, the combination with a washer having a bolt-receiving opening and an entrance-throat leading from one edge of the boltreceiving opening, the entrancethroat being offset to one side of the opening to form a holding-shoulder, said washer being furthermore provided on the outer edge of the side of the entrance-throat that is opposite the holding-shoulder with an upstanding flange having an offset lip located over but spaced from the washer to form a guideway, of a lockingkey arranged to be slidably mounted in said guideway and bear against the adjacent face of the nut of a bolt passed through the opening in the washer.

5. In' a nut-lock, the combination with a washer having a bolt-receiving opening and an entrance-throat leading from one edge of the bolt receiving opening, the entrancethroat being ofisetto one side of the opening to form a holding-shoulder, said washer being furthermore provided on the outer edge of the side of the entrance-throat that is opposite the holding-shoulder with an upstanding flange having an ofiset lip located over but spaced from the washer to form a guide- Way, the edge of said lip contiguous to the entrance-throat being cut away, of a locking key comprising angularly -disposed leaves,

one of which is arranged to be slidably mounted in the guideway, and the other being adapted to bear against the nut of a bolt passed through the opening of the washer and having a beveled end.

In testimony that Iclai'm the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY R. HOPGOOD.

Witnesses:

R. R. RIOHEY, A. S. PAW. 

